PM directs Union Law Minister to extend legal aid to Gujarat Sikh farmers in the Supreme Court

Bajwa pleads case of Gujarat Sikhs before Sonia, PM, complains against Modi

New Delhi/Chandigarh, August 6, 2013: On a request by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today asked the Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal to extend complete legal support in the Supreme Court to Sikh farmers from Punjab and Haryana who are facing eviction from their land in Kutch area of Gujarat.

Bajwa accompanied by Congress MPs from Punjab and Haryana led the deputation of Sikh farmers from Gujarat to meet the AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh and brought to their notice the discrimination done to them by BJP government led by Narender Modi. While Mrs. Sonia Gandhi assured support by Congress to the farmers facing displacement, the Prime Minister assured that their case would be contested by best lawyers in the Supreme Court. The case would come up before the apex court on August 27.

Bajwa informed the Prime Minister that post the 1965 war with Pakistan, the former Prime Minister late Lal Bahadur Shahstri had invited Sikh farmers from Punjab to make the land cultivable and help guarding the country's borders. Many farmers had purchased land in Kutch area and permanently settled there. Now after over 40 years, the Gujarat Chief Minister had ordered them to sell their lands and go back to Punjab. On October 22, 2010 the district collector of Kutch district declared the land owners prima facie outsiders under the "flawed interpretation" of Bombay Tenancy and Agriculture land (Vidarba region and Kutch area) Act 1958. The collector also had frozen their land records.

Bajwa informed the Prime Minister that the full bench of three judges of Gujarat High Court had dismissed the orders of Gujarat Government but instead of implementing the order the Narender Modi decided to file SLP in the Supreme Court against the High Court orders.

PPCC president said that decision of Narender Modi Government demonstrated his anti-minority and anti-farmer mind set and demolishes his bogus claims of development. He said that Mr. Narender Modi was trying to create artificial boundaries and dividing countrymen on grounds of religion, geography and culture. He said that action of Modi was danger to unity and integrity of the country.

The Congress MPs who joined the delegation included, Preneet Kaur Union Minister of state for External Affairs, Union Minister of state for Health & Family Welfare Santosh Chaudhary, Mohinder Singh Kay Pee former PPCC President, Sukhdev Singh Libra, Vijay Inder Singla, Ravneet Singh Bittu and Deepender Singh Hooda.

MEANWHILE, another report from New/Delhi Chandigarh said-

PPCC President Partap Singh Bajwa today thanked AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for giving patient hearing to the Sikh farmers from Gujarat and lashed out at Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Gujarat counterpart Narender Modi for misleading the people on the issue of displacement of Sikh farmers from Kutch area of Gujarat.

He said that Badal was making false statements that Modi had assured him that Sikh farmers would not be displaced. A statement purported to have been issued by office of Modi has stated that Sikh farmers were under no pressure to evict from Gujarat. "Badal and Modi have teamed up to cover up their blunders", he stated.

Bajwa asked both Badal and Modi if they were so inclined to help the Sikh farmers Gujarat Government withdraw its SLP from the Supreme Court and ensure justice to farmers. He said that that SAD and BJP were alliance partners in Punjab and in the NDA, it is astonishing to see that BJP pay no heed to Badal's pleas of justice with Sikh farmers.

Bajwa said the Gujarat Sikhs had approached Badal in 2010 and during last three years he never bothered to talk to Modi on the issue even though both of them are in continuing in power in respective states. He said that Badal had met Modi on June 23 last at Pathankot where latter addressed a BJP rally. Badal had showered praises on Modi and exhibited his love for the cows he had brought from Gujarat. He however didn't take up case of Sikh farmers. He wake up from his sleep only after Congress party raised the issue following frustrated farmers approached Congress party for help.

PPCC President said that Badal, as he claimed, had written a letter to Modi in 2010 following a deputation of Sikh farmers met him in Chandigarh, to look into the grievances of farmers. What could be more embarrassing for the man of stature of Badal that Modi did not even acknowledged his letter.

Bajwa said that the model of Governance and development presented by Badal and Modi has flopped and they are surviving on PR exercise. Modi is busy projecting himself as Prime Ministerial candidate and Badal has a only interest of promoting his son and family business.  They have no capacity to meet the challenges and deliver to public, he added.